Chapter: Chapter 5CELESTE’S POVThe silence between us stayed longer than expected after I lied through my teeth, telling my sister that what I had to say “didn’t matter anymore.”It mattered. God, it mattered more than anything.But I couldn’t bring myself to destroy the fragile joy in her eyes. She was pregnant. And despite everything, she wanted me to be the first to know. That kind of trust… I didn’t deserve it.Sophia looked at me, her head tilted slightly. “Where are you staying now, C? I'm sorry I haven't contacted you since the wedding.”My eyes darted away as guilt bubbled under my skin. “I’m staying at Bethany’s penthouse. She offered, and I… I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”She nodded slowly, almost thoughtfully. “Okay.”I stood up almost immediately. I couldn’t breathe in this house anymore. Her smiles were choking me, and the huge wedding photo frame was hanging adjacent to where I was seated. It felt like the walls were closing in.“I should get going,” I said quickly. “I have to pick
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 4CELESTE’S POVTHREE WEEKS LATERI sat on the toilet lid as my hands trembled, and tears streamed silently down my cheeks as I clutched my stomach.It had been three weeks since my sister’s wedding.Three weeks since I’d made the most horrific mistake of my life.Three weeks since I’d found out that the man I’d slept with in a dark garden under the stars… was Nathaniel Steele… my sister’s husband.Three weeks since he spat those gut-wrenching words at me.And three weeks of emotional torment.The secret was eating me alive. I hadn’t told Sophia. I couldn’t. Because deep down, in the most twisted corner of my mind, I knew Nathaniel was right.She’d never believe me.What would I even say?“Hey, Sophia. I slept with your husband the night before your wedding! Surprise!”I cringed at the thought, burying my face in my hands and letting out a strangled groan. When I looked back up, the reality hit me all over again.Five pregnancy test strips lay across my lap.All of them flashing the sam
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 3CELESTE POVI watched the rest of the wedding like I had cotton stuffed in my ears and glass in my chest. People were smiling, clapping, crying… but all I could hear was static. All I could feel was cold.The priest’s voice cut through the numbness just once.“You may now kiss the bride.”And there it was. The kiss.His kiss.The same lips I’d kissed under garden lights last night. The same lips that made me forget my name.I blinked, stunned at how silent my mind suddenly was. No more excuses. No more pretending. It was real now. All of it.The reception followed. Loud music, champagne towers, flashing lights. But my feet felt like they didn’t belong on the floor. I drifted somewhere between reality and disbelief until two men in suits approached.I didn’t notice them at first… didn’t notice anything—until I heard a voice from behind.“Miss Celeste Marlowe. Please, come through the door.” The guard pointed at one of the doors and I led the way.My heart sank. I wanted to vanish. I wa
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 2Drinks! Laughter! Sexy man!CELESTE’S POVThe moment we stepped into the party, the room lit up with smiles and glittering dresses. People swarmed Bethany like ants to sugar… air kisses, compliments, the occasional “You look stunning”Within seconds, she was gone, swallowed by her people.I stayed back, hovering near the edge of the crowd, nursing a drink I didn’t really want and pretending like I wasn’t already regretting this.The music pulsed through the floor, and the lights made everything look a little too dreamy, like a place where consequences didn’t exist.But I knew better.Places like this, velvet and champagne, and last names that opened doors—came with rules.Unspoken ones…The kind that didn’t forgive outbursts or girls like me.So when a guy in a pale blue shirt started walking toward me with a drink in hand and that arrogant smirk plastered on his face.I knew something was off.He didn’t even introduce himself… just walked right up and placed a hand on my shoulder lik
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: Chapter 1CELESTE POVThe trepidation in me was enough to make me want to throw up, but I swallowed it down and forced a smile as I stepped out of the taxi.“Have a good day,” I said to the driver after he helped me pull my luggage from the trunk, but he ignored me. It didn’t matter, though. I had bigger problems than a rude taxi driver.Clutching my bag tightly, I stared up at the towering five-star hotel looming before me.I wasn’t sure whether to feel ashamed or sad that my younger sister was doing better than me. But more than anything, I was confused when I got her message last month.It had been six years since I’d seen or heard from her.What if she were also staying here? What would I even say to her?“Hi, Sophie. Thanks for thinking of me and inviting me to your wedding. I’m so sorry for abandoning you with that monster all those years ago.”No. No. No.I couldn’t face her yet. I needed more time. I grabbed my bags and made a call.****Fifteen years ago, I vowed never to return to Vel
Last Updated: 2025-12-15
Chapter: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GODDAMN FAMILY?Valentina’s POVAnd then I heard her.“You think I wouldn’t do it again?” Her loud voice was followed by an even louder thud, a chair, or maybe something heavier.“Goddamn it, Davina…” Christopher’s grunt, cut off as quickly as it came.“She wouldn’t let it go,” Davina said, almost too calmly. I leaned closer, barely breathing, as I pressed my ears against the door harder“She kept digging.” Wait, is she talking about me? But this couldn’t be? Christopher spoke again, but his voice was heavier now. “What did you do?”Silence.Then, finally, her reply, just one unapologetic sentence..“Whatever I had to.”I sank, crouching next to the door. Then her voice slipped through again, like she wanted every word to hit.“If she heard this…”A pause.“…tell her to stay in her lane.”A second later, the door sprang open. Davina walked out of the study, and immediately, her blazing eyes met mine.I heard it.She knew I heard it.“Congratulations,” she sneered. “I didn’t think you had the spine
Last Updated: 2025-08-10
Chapter: THAT’S HOW DUMB YOU ARE?Valentina’s POVShe stood in the doorway, her red lips curled into that signature smirk she always wore, and beside her, just a step behind, was Christopher. “ What is he doing ?” I pondered in my mind, but snapped right back when her smirk deepened when she saw my face fall.“Oh,” she cooed, her tone venomous as always, “I didn’t know you’d be here on our date tonight?”My spine stiffened. “Date?”Christopher turned his head slightly towards her direction. “It’s not a date,” he interjected.She laughed. “Oh, darling, I was only teasing. Don’t be so serious,” she purred, gliding across the room.Her eyes flicked back to me. “You don’t mind if I borrow my husband for a bit, do you, Valentina?” Oh, now you remember he’s your husband. Funny. Davina’s presence disgusted me to my very core. The fact that she could just waltz into our space acting like she’s some model wife, like she is not breaking every marital law. Yet, again, she is his wife, even though he doesn’t know the truth.“ V
Last Updated: 2025-08-10
Chapter: GREAT, THE SNAKE BROUGHT BACKUPValentina’s POVOne month later“ HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDAN,” we cheered.Though there were layers of cake heaped to the ceiling, Aidan's giggles, the aroma of vanilla cupcakes, and the sound of our laughter were more than enough. In a way, the break room had changed. Jasmine sneaked in some party napkins with small cartoon animals, Laura put together a few streamers, and I was able to secure a bag of candles, which we lit with a stolen kitchen match.He turned four today. Four. God, it felt like only yesterday I was rocking him to sleep in that stuffed apartment, wondering if we were going to make it till next week. We did!"Make a wish!" Jasmine chimed, and Aidan puffed his cheeks and blew out the crooked number four candle. He looked so proud of himself that I wanted that moment to freeze forever.Laura handed him a small wrapped box, and Jasmine crouched beside him with her phone already recording. Aidan tore into t
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: WELP, DIDN’T NEED TO SEE THAValentina’s POVBy the time I reached the West Wing’s hallway, my steps were lighter.Not exactly light, let’s not get crazy, but focused. I had a plan, even if it wasn’t a great or fully formed one. I just needed to see him. Maybe talk - ask him if he ever thought about repainting the walls or moving his desk out of that dungeon. Something, anything that wasn't just me biting my tongue and watching from the corners while his own family tore him apart.But just as I reached the door to the study, I heard it.A loud, hard thud. Then“Christopher!”Finlay screamed, panicked. I pushed the door open fast, without thinking twice.“Sir?”The tray I was carrying clattered to the floor, spilling the pastries all over the place. With one hand clutching his ribs and the other reaching wildly for nothing, Christopher lay on the ground, hunched over on his side. Felix gave him a single ba
Last Updated: 2025-07-31
Chapter: LIARS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEMValentina’s POVIt has been a week, but I still couldn’t shake the weight of it, the freaking sight of that day from my mind. And now here I am, standing in the study in the dimly lit study, serving brunch like I wasn’t the biggest traitor to exist in the room.“ Thanks, Val,” Finlay smiled, as I placed his cup of chai beside him, careful not to clink it too loudly or spill a slight drop, careful not to let my hands show how badly they were still shaking, from my anxiety.. Christopher sat across from him, his expression unreadable as always, like a doll you didn’t dare touch, except I had, hadn’t I? “I’m telling you, Chris,” Finlay groaned, gesturing with his fork, “the board is getting antsy. They want reassurance, not riddles.”“It’s not my job to make cowards feel safe,” Christopher replied coldly, tapping his fingers against his book.“They are our investors. They want to know their money isn’t being buried with your pride.”“It’s not pride, it
Last Updated: 2025-07-30
Chapter: WELCOME TO THE CIRCUSValentina’s POVThe study was quiet. Too quiet.I stood by the windows, scrubbing the spotless mosaic windows. A desperate attempt to ease my insane nerves - again. Attempting to escape my demons had already become a ritual in my life, but this time, it was worse. In the past, no matter what happened, Aidan was never caught in the crossfire, except for the one accident, and after that, he was in the safe zone, just like I wanted. And now…“ Fuck, how did I let this happen” I scraped the wooden corner of the window frame, holding back my tears my voice completely quiet. I can’t let him notice I was sobbing like a child. AgainIt had been almost twenty-four hours since my confrontation with Xavier, and I still couldn’t stop shaking. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Xavier’s face, that ugly smirk on his face. The way his hand hovered near Aidan’s hair, like he was already reaching to steal him. It wasn’t an empty thre
Last Updated: 2025-07-29
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